In most cases yes that would appear to be the case. There are designs out there for specialist vessels as shown earlier.
In my AU if I am running regular shipments and wanting to keep all tickerdy boo, with the appropriate agency's then I thought a purpose built vessel would be best.
http://www.wnti.co.uk/media/31596/FS5_EN_MAR13_V2.pdf
Specs include, cooling systems, double bottom, double forward bulkheads for collision protection, back up communication systems, wash down system for emergency situations or accidental contamination, additional tracking systems, provision to carry armed security (due yo the nature of cargo).
The ship will be used to bring in spent fuel for reprocessing, waste for verification and storage, and will take out reprocessed fuel rods and and packaged verified waste for storage in the country of origin, (service offered to countries not having there own verification plants) or not wanting to pay to use New Cromer's waste repository.